Senator Risa Hontiveros made a firm perception of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, saying that he is a scammer.
"Kung totoo po yung mga sinabi ng mga witness, isa ang naging malinaw sa pagdinig natin ngayong araw: Scammer si Apollo Quiboloy," Hontiveros said in an interview on Tuesday, March 5.
Hontiveros claimed that the self-proclaimed "son of God" is using faith to collect millions of dollars from KOJC members.
"Ginagamit ang taus-pusong pananampalataya ng mga taga-sunod niya para makalikom ng milyon-milyong pera. Pati mga OFW [overseas Filipino workers] nawawalan ng bahay makabigay lang sa kanya," the senator said.
"Sa Amerika, na-indict din si Quiboloy on bulk cash smuggling, liban pa sa mga kaso ng sex trafficking, fraud, kaya importante yung narinig natin yung paggamit ng mga pekeng account, and coercion. At ngayong araw napag-alaman natin mukhang nakaabot pa sa Singapore at sa Canada," she added.
More victims coming forward
During the Senate hearing, two new victims once again testified how they were abused inside Quiboloy's religious group.
Reynita, a domestic worker from Singapore, told how she was encouraged to rejoin KOJC, where she has been asked to pay 500 Singapore dollars and $2,000.
As she came back to the religious group, she was asked to give 10% of his income and an offering.
"And when you become really committed, when they say that you are very committed to giving, they will make it like they turn it around. Like, your tithes are going to be 90%, not just 10%," she said.
Another overseas Filipino worker in Canada, named Dindo, told the Senate that he had collected money to donate for the Yolanda victims in 2016, in particular to Quiboloy's shelter for children.
"Nung dinalaw ko mga shelter, napag-alaman ko na ang mga bata pala sa shelter, ay mostly anak ng mga full-time worker na poinapadaa biya sa iba't ibang mga bansa. Most of the children were there ay anak ng mga fiull-time miracle worker niya. So hindi talaga siya tulong para sa mga mahihirap," he said.
Quiboloy's repeated non-attendance in hearing
The investigation of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality was supposedly held on Tuesday, March 5.
Quiboloy refused to attend in the hearing, saying in a letter that his appearance would violate his constitutional rights against self-incrimination and the presumption of innocence.
Hontiveros, however, stressed that allowing witnesses to refuse to appeare before a committee due to violation of constitutional right will void Senate's power to conduct an investigation.
"Madaling-madali na lang umiwas sa mga hearing ng Blue Ribbon sa mga tiwaling opisyal, sa mga imbestigasyon ng Public Order Committee sa mga sangkot sa mga krimen. Hindi po uubra ang ganitong mga excuse," the senator said.
Quiboloy repeatedly rejected the Senate's invitation to investigate human trafficking and sexual abuse cases involving his religious group.
He once again rejected the subpoena issued by the Senate Panel on February 22, which urged Hontiveros to cite the KOJC leader for contempt and ordered his arrest.
"So in the next hearing, we will call the Anti-Money Laundering Council to further elucidate us on this matter at gayun din ang Department of Migrant Workers muli," Hontiveros remarked as she thanked Reynita and Dindo for sharing their experiences.
